Pyridinethiolate‐Capped CdSe Quantum Dots for Red‐Light‐Driven H2 Production in Water

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 30; no. 47; pp. e202401475 - n/a
• Main Authors: Wei, Zuting, Yang, Shuang, Lei, Jingxiang, Guo, Kai, Yuan, Huiqing, Ming, Mei, Du, Jiehao, Han, Zhiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 22.08.2024
• Subjects: Carboxylic acids; H2 production; Hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; Quantum dots; Red light; Renewable fuels; Singlet oxygen; Thiolate ligand
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401475

The utilization of low‐energy sunlight to produce renewable fuels is a subject of great interest. Here we report the first example of metal chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) capped with a pyridinethiolate carboxylic acid (pyS‐COOH) for red‐light‐driven H2 production in water. The precious‐metal‐free system is robust over 240 h, and achieves a turnover number (TON) of 43910±305 (vs Ni) with a rate of 31570±1690 μmol g−1 h−1 for hydrogen production. In contrast to the inactive QDs capped with other thiolate ligands, the CdSe‐pyS‐COOH QDs give a significantly higher singlet oxygen quantum yield [ΦΔ (1O2)] in solution. This paper describes the first example of metal chalcogenide quantum dots that show the feasibility of harvesting red‐light for H2 production. The noble‐metal‐free system lasts over 240 hour and realizes a turnover number of 43910. Triplet quantum yield of quantum dot is a key factor promoting the catalysis.